Celtics Get Good News on Health Front Ahead of Friday's Raptors Game

The Boston Celtics started the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament with a 121-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Friday, they face the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. A victory would allow them to control their destiny in this competition. They'd be the only team in Group C without a loss.

It would also strengthen their point differential. While head-to-head record in group play is the first tie-breaker, point differential is the second.

If the hosts of Friday night's matchup prevail, four of the five teams in Group C will have lost an in-season tournament game. Toronto would then control its destiny with three group play games left.

But the latest update to the Celtics' injury report boosts Boston's prospects of staying in the driver's seat to reach the quarterfinals and knockout stage.

Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, who missed Wednesday's 117-107 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers due to a non-Covid illness and right knee contusion, respectively, are available for Friday's game.

So is Al Horford, initially listed as probable because of a sprained left big toe.

The 16-year veteran stepped into the starting lineup for Porzingis against the Sixers, delivering 14 points, making 4/8 threes, grabbing eight rebounds, blocking a game-high five shots, and doing a terrific job against Joel Embiid, who had only 12 points in the second half.

Friday night's matchup between the Celtics and Raptors will tip off at 7:30 EST at Scotiabank Arena. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the matchup before, during, and afterward. Follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

Here's Who's on Celtics Injury Report for Friday's Game vs. Raptors

Celtics Discuss Significance of Rivalry Win vs. 76ers for No. 1 Seed in East

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Keys to Celtics Second-Half Turnaround in Win Over 76ers

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Beat 76ers in Their Best Win of Young Season

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Chemistry with Jaylen Brown: 'I Love Playing with Him'

Joe Mazzulla Shares What's 'Far Exceeded My Expectations' of Kristaps Porzingis

Jaylen Brown on Celtics Learning from Losses and Building Chemistry: 'It's a Learning Curve'

From Self Doubt to Celtics History, Jayson Tatum Discusses Journey to 10,000 Points: 'I Didn't Think I Was Good Enough'

Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present